That is not a solution I'm afraid. Digital volume is at full so lowering it is not really a good plan. I'll think of something. Maybe it's finally time for a proper analog mixer to be introduced to the setup. (sorry, OT)

For me it sounds like the NuForce HDP input stage's beeing clipped. ODAC output is 2Vrms, so in that case only solution I can think of is to lower the volume on ODAC (in PC).

Thanks for the tips guys. Lowering the volume in windows mixer unfortunately does not silence the noise, even if muted. It's usually not a problem but sometimes a movie may have to be turned pretty high up (~70% of the potentiometer range) so the noise will be audible too.

You maybe right about the clipping, I'm not very familiar with the numbers but that did no do it this time.

I have a question about the Windows settings with the odac. Im using mine with foobar + wasapi set to 24 bit in foobar.

In Windows audio settings should I set the odac to 24 bit, 96000 Hz Studio quality or does this not matter? I know that the windows mixer is bypassed when wasapi is enabled, but does that mean that whatever is set here doesn't matter? I've always had it at 16 bit, 44100 Hz CD quality since that's what most internet videos and streams use.

Thanks for that but it doesnt really explain anything. That setup doesnt assume the user is using wasapi so of course you should set it to what most of your music is. But my question remains, when wasapi is used the windows mixer is completely bypassed so shouldnt it not matter what is selected in the windows settings?

Thanks for that but it doesnt really explain anything. That setup doesnt assume the user is using wasapi so of course you should set it to what most of your music is. But my question remains, when wasapi is used the windows mixer is completely bypassed so shouldnt it not matter what is selected in the windows settings?

You seem to answer your own question. If wasapi is bypassing the setting then no, it doesn't matter what setting you have. Of course, we sometimes have sounds and music coming from programs other than foobar, so that is when the settings matter.

Using WASAPI, which is Windows ASIO etc...make sure you have the software player set to exclusive access as well as in the advanced playback settings in windows so the device is in exclusive use mode...or re-sampling may occur....

Setting the WIN 7 to 44.1/24 bits is a good thing to do anyway it doesnt hurt...I have seen people reset things to default and back to Win Direct Sound Mode and not even know it..